Playground toy

ABSTRACT

A toy adapted for use on a playground or similar area including a relatively vertical upstanding framework having a spiral ribbon-like band suspended therefrom. A child supporting platform having a groove to interact with the ribbon is threaded upon the ribbon and includes as an integral part thereof an upstanding flexible tube which surrounds the ribbon. The rider of the platform can grasp the tube for stabilization and use it as a braking means by simply squeezing the tube about the ribbon-like band. For playground use a shock absorbing resilient means may be located at the bottom of the ribbon to halt the descent. In one embodiment, the band may be positioned over the corner of a swimming pool. In another embodiment, a ladder is provided so that the child may climb to the top of the framework.

United States Patent [1 1 Willis [451 May 1, 1973 [54] PLAYGROUND TOYDouglas P. Willis, 1201 East Market Street, Aberdeen, Wash. 98520 22Filed: May 1, 1972 211 App1.No.: 248,888

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl ..272/1R, 4/172, 182/193,

272/565, 272/60 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63g 21/00 [58] Field of Search".....272/56.5, l R, 60;

4/172, 172.1 1l72.l9; 297/349; l82/189l93, 5-7

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,501,976 3/1950 Vitek..297/348 3,554,540 1/1971 Green ..272/60 Primary Examiner-Richard C.Pinkham Assistant ExaminerHarvey S. lsrael Attorney-Richard W. Seed etal.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A toy adapted for use on a playground or similar areaincluding a relatively vertical upstanding framework having a spiralribbon-like band suspended therefrom. A child supporting platform havinga groove to interact with the ribbon is threaded upon the ribbon andincludes as an integral part thereof an upstanding flexible tube whichsurrounds the ribbon. The rider of the platform can grasp the tube forstabilization and use it as a braking means by simply squeezing the tubeabout the ribbon-like hand. For playground use a shock absorbingresilient means may be located at the bottom of the ribbon to halt thedescent. In one embodiment, the band may be positioned over the cornerof a swimming pool. In another embodiment, a ladder is provided so thatthe child may climb to the top of the framework.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDW H915 FIG. 3

FIG, 4

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has become generally recognized thatplayground equipment for use in schools and other areas should not onlybe fun for the participant but for the complete development of the childshould provide exercise such as climbing or the like. The exerciseinvolved develops muscles necessary for later life and also greatlyincreases muscle coordination.

In order for a toy to be popular with the children as well as providingthe stimulus necessary to encourage exercise, the toy must firstly beusable by many children simultaneously or have a short cycle time sothat it may be used by several children taking turns without undue wait.Secondly, the toy to get maximum usage, must be stimulating andenjoyable to the children using it.

It is obvious, after observation of children at play, that one of theprocesses they enjoy is the rapid movement of the body as well as thefeel of the wind in their faces. One means which has been used in thepast to provide children with some of the above noted enjoyment has beena toy which is adapted to be propelled or moved from an elevatedposition to a lower position by means of gravity. The toys often includea means for causing the child supporting vehicle to rotate about acentral axis point simultaneously with the fall.

One of the problems with the prior art devices which incorporate theprinciple of gravitational fall combined with horizontal spin has beenin the size of the vehicles as well as the fact that they were designedfor use by more than one child. The size and relative weight of theinstruments eliminates the possibility of individual play on thatparticular device. Prior art disclosures which incorporate some of theprinciples noted hereabove are U.S. Pat. No. 1,671,403 granted to Brownin 1928 which is a two-seat roundabout subject to the problems notedhereinabove. A U.S. patent was granted to Coska, Ser. No. 193,116 inMar. of 1933 upon an amusement device which incorporated essentially thesame principles as hereinabove noted but included four seats instead oftwo. Further modification upon the subject device is taught by U.S. Pat.No. 3,081,083 granted to Gregory on Mar. of 1963 which again suffersfrom the problem of requiring more than one person and usually normallyincludes a supervisor.

With the above noted prior art in mind, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a toy suitable for playground use utilizinggravitational force to provide movement ofthe toy and its rider.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy which isentirely safe, capable of being used by a child without assistance andwhich uses gravity to cause a whirling downward ride.

Yet another'object of the present invention is to provide a gravitymotivated toy which is completely within the control of the rider andwhich includes a flexible member which serves both as a stabilizingmeans for the rider and as a brake either halting or retarding thedownward movement of the toy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe inventive playground toy in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the interconnection between thechild supporting platform and the braking and stabilizing tube. 7

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing the slot in the platform toaccommodate the twisted band.

FIG. 4 is a section along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 further illustrating theslot for interaction with the band.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing one means for absorbing the shockwhen the child contacts the supporting area.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the subject device as mounted over thecomer of a swimming pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS As can be seen in FIG. 1, theplayground device is supported by a rigid framework which includes apair of identical generally parallel U-shaped members 2, 4 which arerigidly spaced from each other by means of cross pieces 6 and 8 at thebottom as well as ladder rungs 10 along one side. The side opposite theladder rungs 10 would normally only have one brace 12 to preventchildren from playing from both sides of the framework which would causedangerous congestion at the top of the framework. At approximately themid point of the base of the inverted U-shaped side members 2, 4 thereis another joining brace member 14 which is shown as extending upwardlyfrom the side rails 2, 4 in somewhat of an A-shape. The shape of thisbrace member is not considered essential to the invention and all thatis required is that it provide adequate support for the spiral band 16which is secured thereto. To assure rigid structure there is anotherbrace member 18 extending between the cross braces 6 and 8 thus forminga solid structure which supports the ribbon 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the passenger supporting platform 19 can beseen mounted upon the band- 16 in a manner appropriate for use. Locatedbelow the platform 18 there is depicted one method of halting downwardmovement of the child carrying platform which comprises an outwardlyextending rod 20 which is secured to the band and extends outwardlytherefrom and has a compression spring 22 mounted thereupon for contactwith the bottom of the platform 18 stopping the downward descent withoutundue shock at a position where the riders legs are safe from injury.

Extending upwardly from platform 18 is a flexible tube 24 which needonly be flexible over a portion of its total length and which servesboth as a supporting means for the passenger and the platform 18retaining the platform in a relatively horizontal position and furtherserves as a brake.

A passenger mounting the platform will grasp the tube 24 and compress itagainst band 16 preventing downward movement. He will then swing outonto the platform and when he desires to descend, will release thepressure upon the band, allowing the platform to descend, controllingthe rate of descent by pressure upon the tube until it contacts astopping means.

To assure a rapid and uniform descent, the groove in the platform is nota rectangular vertical groove, but is a groove which is flared out atthe top and the bottom to provide congruent contact between the grooveand the ribbon 16. As seen in FIG. 3, the groove, although beinggenerally rectangular when viewed from the top view, has the diagonallyopposite long sides of the rectangle 26 and 28 beveled outwardly to forma smooth curved surface 30 and 32 which contact the curvature of theribbon resulting in a smooth and rapid descent. It is to be understoodthat although the ribbon and platform shown is the preferred embodiment,any spirally configured exteriorly'profiled upstanding element andcomplementary child supporting element fall with the scope of thisinvention.

As seen in FIG. is a second method of halting the downward movement ofthe platform and as shown here the platform can include a downwardlyprojecting compression spring 34 which would contact the supportingsurface, thus gently terminating the descent.

As seen in FIG. 6, it is well within the contemplation of the presentinvention that it could be used in conjunction with a swimming poolwhich is depicted generally at 40 and has at the corner thereofupstanding posts 42 joined at their upper end by braces 44. Braces 44support outwardly projecting rigid members 46 which in turn support thespiral ribbon 48 in much the same manner as described with respect toFIGS. 1 through 5.

Thus, it can be readily seen that the hereinabove described toy isrelatively simple in nature and therefore should be relativelyinexpensive and available to most school systems, nurseries and thelike. In addition to these obvious advantages of the toy as usable byone person on a playground by himself and extremely safe is the factthat it includes an integral braking and supporting means which islocated at the natural position for the users hands during the ridingthereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An exercise and entertainment device comprising:

a rigid, generally vertical framework having a horizontal portionextending away from the supporting vertical members,

flat, twisted relatively flat ribbon-like means vertically extendingfrom the top of the frame to a position proximate the base of theframework,

slotted platform means mounted upon and movable secured adjacent aswimming pool and the ribbon means extends into the water.

3. A device as in claim I wherein the ribbon means includes a yieldablestop means to prevent the platform from progressing the entire length ofthe ribbon.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein the bottom of the platform has securedthereto a shock absorbing means for slowing and stopping the platform atthe bottom of the ribbon.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the framework includes an integralladder allowing easy ascent to the top of the frame.

. A device as in claim 1 wherein the slot in the platform has contourscomplementary to the profile of the l ribbon means.

7. An exercise and entertainment device comprising:

a generally vertical element having an exterior surface having uniformspiral configurations,

means to support the vertical element such that the area immediatelysurrounding the vertical portion is free from obstruction,

means for supporting an individual having an opening therein which iscomplementary to the spiral configurations upon the vertical elementwhereby movement of the supporting means along the vertical elementcauses the supporting means to rotate about the vertical element, and

braking means extending upwardly fromthe supporting means, said brakingmeans surrounding the vertical element and having at least a portionthereof flexible such that it may be compressed about the verticalelement and serve as a brake.

1. An exercise and entertainment device comprising: a rigid, generallyvertical framework having a horizontal portion extending away from thesupporting vertical members, flat, twisted relatively flat ribbon-likemeans vertically extending from the top of the frame to a positionproximate the base of the framework, slotted platform means mounted uponand movable vertically along the vertical ribbon-like means, saidplatform means having an upwardly extending tubular means having aflexible portion overlying the portion of the ribbon means immediatelyupward from the platform whereby the ribbon portion is shielded and thetubular means serves as a stabilizing element and the braking means forthe child as he sits upon the platform, straddling the ribbon anddescends in a spinning fashion from the top of the frame to the bottomof the ribbon.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the framework issecured adjacent a swimming pool and the ribbon means extends into thewater.
 3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the ribbon means includes ayieldable stop means to prevent the platform from progressing the entirelength of the ribbon.
 4. A device as in claim 1 wherein the bottom ofthe platform has secured thereto a shock absorbing means for slowing andstopping the platform at the bottom of the ribbon.
 5. A device as inclaim 1 wherein the framework includes an integral ladder allowing easyascent to the top of the frame.
 6. A device as in claim 1 wherein theslot in the platform has contours complementary to the profile of theribbon means.
 7. An exercise and entertainment device comprising: agenerally vertical element having an exterior surface having uniformspiral configurations, means to support the vertical element such thatthe area immediately surrounding the vertical portion is free fromobstruction, means for supporting an individual having an openingtherein which is complementary to the spiral configurations upon thevertical element whereby movement of the supporting means along thevertical element causes the supporting means to rotate about thevertical element, and braking means extending upwardly from thesupporting means, said braking means surrounding the vertical elementand having at least a portion thereof flexible such that it may becompressed about the vertical element and serve as a brake.